MEET THE ONLY BLACK WOMAN ON THE WORLD’S LIST OF HIGHEST-PAID TV ACTRESSES FOR 2018

Only one black actress has made it on the annual list of TV’s 10 highest-paid actresses unveiled this year by Forbes magazine, generating a debate about the lack of pay equality among black folks in the industry.

For the fifth year in a row, Kerry Washington is the only black woman to appear on the list, after nabbing the number 8 spot for her role on the hit ABC show, Scandal, which brought in $11 million for her over the past year.

Fellow ABC star, Ellen Pompeo brought in $23.5 million for her role in “Grey’s Anatomy”, (3rd spot), a figure far higher than Washington’s while “Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara, who earned $42.5 million earned the top position.

The earnings were calculated from June 2017 to June 2018, and together, the world’s 10 highest-paid TV actresses earned a combined $168.5 million during that period, an increase from last year’s $156.5 million.

“All earnings estimates are from June 1, 2017, through June 1, 2018. Figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted. Earnings estimates are based on data from Nielsen, Box Office Mojo and IMDB, as well as interviews with industry insiders,” Forbes said.

Below are the World’s Highest-Paid Actresses 2018

1. Sofia Vergara Earnings: $42.5 million Primary Show: Modern Family

2. Kaley Cuoco $24.5 million Big Bang Theory

3. Ellen Pompeo $23.5 million Grey’s Anatomy

4. Mariska Hargitay $13 million Law & Order: SVU

5. Julie Bowen $12.5 million Modern Family

6. (tie) Mayim Bialik $12 million Big Bang Theory

7. (tie) Melissa Rauch $12 million Big Bang Theory

8. Kerry Washington $11 million Scandal

9. Claire Danes $9 million Homeland

10. Pauley Perrette $8.5 million NCIS

Though Washington was able to earn more than “Homeland” star Claire Danes, who took home $9 million, and former “NCIS” star Pauley Perrette, who earned $8.5 million, the fact that she is the only black person on the list has raised concerns about production companies not paying the current crop of black actresses enough to make it on lists such as this.

It is these rankings that will influence their future jobs and boost their career, so a second look must be given to their situation, industry watchers have said.

It is unfortunate that even the Black women who are believed to have more opportunities in acting are not making as much as their white counterparts.

Black actress, Taraji P. Henson highlighted this in her memoir Around the Way Girl where she described being paid a lowly six-figure and was even forced to pay for her own hotel costs for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, while others like Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt received incomes in the millions, Refinery29 reported.